Bale-band tightener



(No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 1.

L. M I L L E R Bale; Band Tigh'teli'er.

No. 235,550... Patehted Dec. 14, 1880.

N.PETERS. PHDYU-LITHOGRAPHFR WAS IINGION D O (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. M I L L E R.

Bale Band Tight'ener. No. 235,550. Patented Dec. 14, 1880.;

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS'MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALE-BAND TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,550, dated December 14, 1880. Application filed October 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS MILLER, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bale- Band Tighteners and Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for tightening bale-bands around a bale of cotton or other material, and for securing the ends of the band; and it has for its objects to provide an apparatus which can be operated by hand upon a bale-band in a continuous strip, to tighten the same by a strain at two points of said band after it has been passed around the bale, and to punch the fastening devices in the bale-band and secure the same together, and to separate the band after being fastened around the bale from the continuous strip and release it, as more fully hereinafter shown and described. These objects I attain by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus, showing the band passed around the bale of cotton in position to be'applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional View, showing the operating parts in detail. Fig. 3 represents a top view of a portion of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 represents a front view of the fastening device detached.

The letter A indicates a frame carrying the various working parts of my improved device. At the forward end of the frame A is journaled a transverse rock-shaft, B, which is provided with a standard or arm, 0, having a bearing, D, at its extremity, in which a journal, E, of the head or carrier F is pivoted. The said head or carrier F is provided with a longitudinal groove, G, at one side, through which the continuous band H, after being properly placed around the bale, is passed, a

slot, I, being provided, through which the free end of the band is passed into the longitudinal groove, as indicatedin Fig. 1 of the drawings. The portion or abutment K of the head or carrier below the longitudinal groove is rounded at the ends, in order that the strip may be conveniently bent around it to secure it to the device so that it can be subjected to the necessary strain to tighten it, as more fully hereinafter specified.

The letter L indicates a small slide, located in a transverse groove at the end of the head or carrier, the said slide being provided with a half-rounded extension, M, which can be projected in front of the abutment K, or away from it, as desired, by means of a hand-lever, N, fulcrumed to the head at O.

The letter P indicates a cross-head, located between the lower ends of the sides of the frame A, which constitute ways between which the said cross-head is adapted to slide back and forth. From one end of the said cross- "head extends a metallic strap, Q, which is secured to a segment, It, secured toa shaft, S, jonrnaled in bearings in the sides of the frame A, the said shaft being provided with a handlever, T, at one end, by means of which the segment may be operated to reciprocate or move the cross-head through the medium of the metallic strip.

The letter U indicates a spring by means of which the cross-head is held and returned to a normal position. From the top of the crosshead extends a standard, V, to which is fulcrumeda hand-lever, W, which is provided with a series of gripe-teeth, Y, adapted to sieze and hold the band to the cross-head, as more fully hereinafter specified.

The frame A is provided with an inclined seat, Z, over which the bale-band strip. is adapted to pass, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At one side of said seat is a standard, A, in which is fulcrumed a hand-lever, B, which is provided with gripe-teeth Oi, similar to the gripe-teeth on the lever W, the said lever B being adapted to hold the bale-band to the seat Z, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The respective hand levers, before mentioned, are provided with suitable springs,

by means of which they are held in and returned to a normal position.

The letter 1) indicates a. cushion against which the segment is adapted to abut to take up the shock upon its return to a normal position.

The abutment K of the head or carrier F, as before indicated, forms a seat for the baleband after it is passed around the bale. The said abutment is provided with two rectangular apertures, E, and serves as a stationary die to operate in conjunction with a movable die or follower provided with suitable cutters to form the fastening devices in the bale-band.

The letter F indicates the movable die or follower, which is located between and adapted to travel in the ways G formed in the head or carrier. The said follower is provided with beveled punches H, which are adapted to cut the metal of the band, forming interlocking tongues, by means of which the ends of the bale-band are secured together.

The letter I indicates two sliding boxes, located in ways K in the head or carrier F, the said boxes being provided with slots L, in whichthe pins M of the cam-levers N journaled or fulcrumed in bearings O on opposite sides of the head or carrier work.- The said levers are arranged to work in opposite directions simultaneously to reciprocate the blocks, and by means of the blocks the movable die or follower F. By this arrangement a powerful purchase upon the levers is secured when operated by both hands of an attendant. The follower or movable die F is also provided with a cutter, P, which operates in conjunction with an abutment,R, to sever the finished bale-band from the continuous strip.

From the upper end of the frameA extends a rod or flat bar of metal, A, which may be of any suitable length, according to the work to be effected.

The letter B indicates a traveling carriage provided with grooved rollers 0 which are adapted to travel upon a transverse rod, D secured to standard E attached to any suitable support. The bar or rod A extends vertically through guides secured to the traveling carriage, and is adapted to move back and forth therein. The upper end of said rod or bar has attached to it a cord or chain, F pass-.

ing over pulley G secured to brackets H attached to any suitable support. The cord or chain has attached to it a counterbalanceweight, 1 by means of which the frame A and the various parts of the apparatus may be held in any desired position.

The letter K indicates a reel, mounted in. suitable supports, and carrying the continuous strip or bale-band.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description, and is as follows:

The device is suspended in a vertical position, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, the bale-band being carried downward from the reel under the gripe-levers and above the finally bent upward against the outer face of the abutment. As thus arranged, upon elevating the cross-head by means of the segmentlever, the gripe-lever on the cross-head will seize the band, and the end of said band being secured to the abutment K, it will be evident that the strain will be brought upon the band at each end passing around the bale. The band as it is tightened passes up under the gripe-lever B, which prevents its return and consequent slacking around the bale when the segment-lever is released. After the band has been tightened around the bale the movable die or follower .is operated by means of the levers, so as to force the punches through the band, and cause the cutter to separate the portion tied around the bale from the continuous strip.

After the fastening devices have been thus formed the lever N is operated to withdraw the extension M of the slide L from under the band, which slackens the band around the bale sufficiently to allow the ends to slip upon each other a proper distance to interlock the fastening devices. The head or carrier F is then turned laterally a sufficient distance to release the tie, the sliding die or follower being drawn back to open the longitudinal groove G.

The head or carrier F, being swiveledin the standard 0, attached to the rock-shaft B, is capable of an upward movement, whereby its removal from the bale -band is insured against any transverse binding under the baleband.

The entire device is then moved laterally, by means of the carriage B upon the transverse rod D when it is in position to repeat the above-described operation upon another band or tie of the bale to be secured.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In a bale-band tightener, the combina- ICO IIO

tion, with the abutment K on the stationary head or carrier, the movable cross-head P, having a suitable gripe-lever, a segment and strap for moving said cross-head positivelyin one direction, and a spring for returning the same, of the stationary frame A, having a seat and a gripe-lever for co-operating with said seat, whereby a bale-band may be tightened by the successive forward movements of said cross-head, and be prevented from slipping backward on the return of the same, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the abutment on the stationary head, provided with rectangular apertures, the movable die or follower and its beveled punches and operating mechanism, substantially as specified.

A! 3. In combination with stationary head F, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I having abutment K, to which the bale-band is have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of secured, the slide L, having extension M at October, 1880.

one end, and a lever, N, for operating said LEWIS MILLER. 5 slide, whereby the bale-band may be slack- Witnesses:

ened to permit the fastening devices to inter- H. AUBREY TOULMIN,

lock, substantially as specified. C. A. NEALE. 

